West Midlands Police is set to test reforms making it easier for police to stop and search suspects.

The force will pilot changes allowing police to stop people in the street without filling in a lengthy form.

Officers will deliver brief spoken reports using recording devices.

They will also give suspects business cards with a phone number to complain to.

Critics have warned making it easier to stop and search suspects could damage relations between police and the public, particularly ethnic minorities.

Official figures showed black people were seven times more likely than whites to be stopped and searched in 2006, while Asians were twice as likely.

Last night Maxi Hayles, chairman of the Birmingham Racial Attacks Monitoring Unit, said he believed an increase in stop and search powers could encourage animosity.

He said: "The black community does not object to stop and search as an idea. The problem is the disproportionate number of black people stopped and searched. It will lead to animosity which will create tension."

However, Dr Mohammed Naseem, Chair of Birmingham Central Mosque, said the reforms made sense if aimed at suspected criminals.

He said: "If stop and search is to be used with suspects, and not aimed at Muslims or any other group, then there is no reason to oppose it."

The changes are part of a package of reforms included in a report by Sir Ronnie Flanagan, the Chief Inspector of Constabulary, commissioned by Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary.

The report said: "These proposals should be piloted in the West Midlands and evaluated by the end of summer 2008."

Last night a spokesman for West Midlands Police said: "We can confirm West Midlands Police have been asked to take part in pilot work around stop and search and are keen to contribute toward this vital area of our business."

The report also warned the number of police officers in England and Wales would have to fall.

Sir Ronnie said it was not necessary to have 140,000 officers, and many jobs could be done by civilians.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Ms Smith said she accepted Sir Ronnie's recommendations.

She said: "I agree with his proposal we should scrap the lengthy form officers use to record data when they carry out stop and account.

"But I do not underestimate the need to build community confidence. We must be able to monitor the proportionality of stops."

Police would use their existing "Airwave" radio system to record verbal reports, she said.

"I welcome the proposal we use Airwave police radio technology to record any encounter and the card officers will give out will have a phone number they can call.

"We will immediately pilot this new approach in three areas and I expect the changes to be national later this year."

The report also re-opened the debate about force mergers, urging the Home Office to encourage services to amalgamate.

Plans to merge West Midlands Police with West Mercia Police, Staffordshire Police and Warwickshire Police were scrapped in 2006 following opposition from West Mercia.

But Sir Ronnie said the Home Office should do everything possible to allow voluntary mergers to take place, such as allowing forces which wanted to join together to equalise their precept on the council tax.

It also recommended radical changes to the way police forces in England and Wales are funded, which could dramatically alter the amount of cash some areas of the country receive for crime fighting.

Conservatives last night claimed the report showed the Government was planning to cut police numbers.

David Davis, the Shadow Home Secretary, said "The difference between the Government and the Conservatives could not be clearer.

"Labour see slashing red tape as a means to cut police officer numbers. Conservatives will cut red tape in order to put more officers on our streets."